History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Milk Glass Moon: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

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Book Review
GOOD READ
Milk Glass Moon
The third book in the "Big Stone Gap" quartet
Wonderful book!

Milk Glass Moon: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
Adriana Trigiani
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345445856
Release Date: 2003-07-01

Book Description

Milk Glass Moon, the third book in Adriana Trigiani's bestselling Big Stone Gap series, continues the life story of Ave Maria Mulligan MacChesney as she faces the challenges and changes of motherhood with her trademark humor and honesty. With twists as plentiful as those found on the holler roads of southwest Virginia, this story takes turns that will surprise and enthrall the reader.

Transporting us from Ave Maria's home in the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Italian Alps, from New York City to the Tuscan countryside, Milk Glass Moon is the story of a shifting mother-daughter relationship, of a daughter's first love and a mother's heartbreak, of an enduring marriage that contains its own ongoing challenges, and of a community faced with seismic change.

All of Trigiani's beloved characters are back: Jack Mac, Ave Maria's true love, who is willing to gamble security for the unknown; her best friend and confidant, bandleader Theodore Tip-ton, who begins a new life in New York City; librarian and sexpert Iva Lou Wade Makin, who faces a life-or-death crisis. Meanwhile, surprises emerge in the blossoming of crusty cashier Fleeta Mullins, the maturing of mountain girl turned savvy businesswoman Pearl Grimes, and the return of Pete Rutledge, the handsome stranger who turned Ave Maria's world upside down in Big Cherry Holler.

In this rollicking hayride of upheaval and change, Ave Maria is led to places she never dreamed she would go, and to people who enter her life and rock its foundation. As Ave Maria reaches into the past to find answers to the present, readers will stay with her every step of the way, rooting for the onetime town spinster who embraced love and made a family. Milk Glass Moon is about the power of love and its abiding truth, and captures Trigiani at her most lyrical and heartfelt.

Download Description

Milk Glass Moon, the third book in Adriana Trigiani's bestselling Big Stone Gap series, continues the life story of Ave Maria Mulligan MacChesney as she faces the challenges and changes of motherhood with her trademark humor and honesty. With twists as plentiful as those found on the holler roads of southwest Virginia, this story takes turns that will surprise and enthrall the reader.

Transporting us from Ave Maria's home in the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Italian Alps, from New York City to the Tuscan countryside, Milk Glass Moon is the story of a shifting mother-daughter relationship, of a daughter's first love and a mother's heartbreak, of an enduring marriage that contains its own ongoing challenges, and of a community faced with seismic change.

All of Trigiani's beloved characters are back: Jack Mac, Ave Maria's true love, who is willing to gamble security for the unknown; her best friend and confidant, bandleader Theodore Tipton, who begins a new life in New York City; librarian and sexpert Iva Lou Wade Makin, who faces a life-or-death crisis. Meanwhile, surprises emerge in the blossoming of crusty cashier Fleeta Mullins, the maturing of mountain girl turned savvy businesswoman Pearl Grimes, and the return of Pete Rutledge, the handsome stranger who turned Ave Maria's world upside down in Big Cherry Holler.

In this rollicking hayride of upheaval and change, Ave Maria is led to places she never dreamed she would go, and to people who enter her life and rock its foundation. As Ave Maria reaches into the past to find answers to the present, readers will stay with her every step of the way, rooting for the onetime town spinster who embraced love and made a family. Milk Glass Moon is about the power of love and its abiding truth, and captures Trigiani at her most lyrical and heartfelt.

Customer Reviews:

Book Review.......2007-10-01

Great book! Author is awesome. First time reading her books & really enjoyed the triology.

GOOD READ.......2007-06-01

I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY STEPMOTHER AND AUNT. THEY BOTH LIKE HER BOOKS REALLY WELL.

Milk Glass Moon.......2007-02-11

I have loved all of the Big Stone Gap Novels - "Milk Glass Moon" is the third in this series which will charm anyone who enjoys a kind of "down home" story, as we journey through life with Ave Maria, her husband,Jack, and their daughter, Etta, and all their friends in Big Stone Gap. I call this one of my "feel good" books (Please note, I feel the same way about Fannie Flagg's books) - you want to pack up and move to Big Stone Gap and be a part of their lives.

The third book in the "Big Stone Gap" quartet.......2006-09-09

After following the troubled MacChesney marriage in the second book, readers now focus on the adolescent Etta as she struggles with growing up. Her mother Ave Maria, too, has difficulty allowing her daughter this passage, especially after losing her toddler son Joe to leukemia.

Yet, like her mother, Etta promises to become a strong young woman. This doesn't make the MacChesneys any easier, though, when longtime family friend Stefano Grassi comes to visit from Italy...

This book is the second of the "Big Stone Gap" quartet; the fourth book is scheduled for release at the end of October 2006.

Wonderful book!.......2006-05-24

Like the 2 previous novels about Big Stone Gap and the MacChesney, I love this one too! I am glad to see that there is another book, The Return to Big Stone Gap, coming out in September.

Tom Stoppard: Plays 3: A Separate Peace, Teeth, Another Moon Called Earth, Neutral Ground, Professional Foul, Squaring the Circle (Faber Contemporary Classics)

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Stoppard Collection

Tom Stoppard: Plays 3: A Separate Peace, Teeth, Another Moon Called Earth, Neutral Ground, Professional Foul, Squaring the Circle (Faber Contemporary Classics)
Tom Stoppard
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

United States | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0571194281

Book Description

Plays Three:
A Separate Peace
Teeth
Another Moon Called Earth
Neutral Ground
Professional Foul
Squaring the Circle

Introduced by the author, this third collection of plays written by Tom Stoppard contains his television plays, written between 1965 and 1984. They show that Stoppard's writing for the small screen is comparable to his more celebrated stage work, as the masterly and timely Professional Foul demonstrates. In his introduction the author briefly describes how the pieces came to be written and the circumstances of their original production.

Customer Reviews:

Stoppard Collection.......2000-10-11

Stoppard is a wonderful playwright, but these are not some of his best plays. The collection is good, but I recommend buying some of his better plays even though they're not in an easy format like this, simply because it's better worth your money. If you already own those, however, this book will make a fine addition to your collection.

The Speed of Dark (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

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true to life
The Speed of Dark
A fascinating insight into autism, and an analysis on what it means to be "me"
Great reading
Five Star

The Speed of Dark (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
Elizabeth Moon
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345447549
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Amazon.com

Corporate life in early 21st-century America is even more ruthless than it was at the turn of the millennium. Lou Arrendale, well compensated for his remarkable pattern-recognition skills, enjoys his job and expects never to lose it. But he has a new boss, a man who thinks Lou and the others in his building are a liability. Lou and his coworkers are autistic. And the new boss is going to fire Lou and all his coworkers--unless they agree to undergo an experimental new procedure to "cure" them.

In The Speed of Dark, Elizabeth Moon has created a powerful, complex, and believable portrayal of a man who varies radically from what is defined as "normal." The author insightfully explores the nature of "normality," identity, choice, responsibility, free will, illness and health, and good and evil. The Speed of Dark is a powerful, moving, illuminating novel in the tradition of Flowers for Algernon, Forrest Gump, and Rain Man . --Cynthia Ward

Book Description

Thoughtful, poignant, and unforgettable, The Speed of Dark is a gripping exploration into the world of Lou Arrendale, an autistic man who is offered a chance to try a brand-new experimental “cure” for his condition. Now Lou must decide if he should submit to a surgery that might completely change the way he views the world . . . and the very essence of who he is.

Customer Reviews:

true to life.......2007-10-05

Started this book last night and am already halfway through, it is so engaging and well written. One thing that the other reviewers have not mentioned is that the author's son is mostly likely autistic. I surmised that from the dedication and acknowledgements pages. Although the only people who really understand autism are autistics themselves, I'd say that Moon has a special insight based on her personal experience and no doubt wide knowledge of it. Add that to her great writing and you've got a great read.
I work in the mental health field and plan to recommend it to all my coworkers.

The Speed of Dark.......2007-09-28

This was a great book. We read it for our Book Club and it promoted a lot of discussion. The book did have a torn page in it.

A fascinating insight into autism, and an analysis on what it means to be "me".......2007-09-03

Lou Arrandale is autistic, but one that can usually function in "normal" society. When a new (experimental) therapy is developed, in which the brain is tricked into creating new neural pathways to replace/substitute for the damaged ones that lead to autism, Lou is left with a dilemma. Should he take the treatment? Will it fundamentally alter who he is? Will it work well enough that he can function as a "normal" person? Will the treatment cost him his abilities at mathematical pattern analysis (something autistics do better than non-autistics), and therefore his current job?

The strength of Moon's book is that she focuses on the second question: will changing an autistic person from "disabled" to "normal" cause a fundamental change in who he is? The fact that "Speed of Dark" is (mostly) written in the first person is key: we enter the mind of the autistic main character so we learn to care about him like a friend, and would not have him risk irretrievably changing himself for the nebulous promise of becoming more normal in an experimental treatment. We are also introduced to Lou's world of fellow autistics (who work in his pattern-analysis section at the Company) and his fencing group of normals. Again, the first-person writing style is key in illuminating Lou's world and giving us an idea of how the autistic mind works. Having met few autistics in my time, I cannot vouch for the veracity of the portrayal of autism - I do know that they have difficulty picking up social signals and take things strictly literally - but the details Moon brings seem genuine and it's a fascinating look into the autistic mind.

The details of the plot are not as important as the portrait of the main character. A junior vice-president in Lou's Company tries to bully the autistic section into taking the experimental treatment as the first cohort of human volunteers. Meanwhile, Lou's extra-curricular activities include fencing every Wednesday night, and he attends his first tournament. He also loves a "normal" woman in that group, arousing the jealousy of a rival suitor. Unusually, for a science fiction novel, Lou is a regular church-goer, and Moon very effectively uses a homily by Lou's priest as an example of the literal-mindedness of autistics. In the most interesting passages of the book, Lou's car is vandalised twice in one week (coincidence??), and Lou is removed from his comfort zone in having to deal with the police and insurance company.

This book won the Nebula Award (voted on by the members of the Science Fiction Writers Association) for best novel. It is very nearly a 5-star story, one that will inevitably draw comparisons to the old classic "Flowers for Algernon". Unfortunately, it just doesn't pack the emotional punch of "Algernon", and "Speed of Dark" is also marred by a common sci fi problem - Moon has set up a very compelling problem and characters, but then she doesn't quite know how to wrap up the story satisfactorily. It is not as bad in this book as in, say, "Darwin's Radio" (Greg Bear) or "Andromeda Strain" (Michael Crichton), but it is enough to lower the rating to 4 stars, in my opinion. Still, it's a very interesting book (and a good read!) and I recommend it highly.

Great reading.......2007-08-27

Absolutely loved this book from the first page to the last. Read it while vacationing in the Bahamas, it was the perfect remedy for flight delays and long waits.

I had also read and enjoyed The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Haddon, which is a similar novel in that it is first person from an autistic viewpoint. I much prefer this one, though to be fair no one is demanding a comparison. I came to know and appreciate the characters here, the dialogue was not contrived, it felt natural. I loved the simple observations of the world from Lou's perspective, and the calming effect that structured music can have.

It made me think how so many of my own thoughts and feelings could be considered borderline autistic at times, or rather be similar to what an autistic person thinks or feels. I also felt for the boss as he struggled with his good intentions, but never truly understood where Lou and the others were coming from. I identified with him, how often do I apply my own rules/views to other people's problems?

Moon is a seasoned and expert novelist, the descriptions and dialogue flow naturally. I also enjoyed the brief introduction to fencing, and appreciate learning about it through the plot devices, not in a flooded rush like Tom Clancy explaining how nuclear weapons work. A favorite part were the restaurant servers, referred to literally by their name tags "Hi my name is X". Now every time I see one of those tags, I need to word it out in my head...

One final note, though labeled "science fiction" it really is not what most would consider sci-fi. It takes place in what seems to be the not too distant future, but that is only as a plot device. The same novel could just as easily have been written to take place in 2007 with some minor changes.

Five Star.......2007-06-27

Lou is an autistic living in the near future as a computer analyst. The story revolves around his perspectives and dealings with "normal" people.
He functions well due to a supportive environment and adaptation of the workplace to his needs. His workplace is disrupted by a new CEO that wants him to undertake a experimental drug treatment so that he can be like "other people".

I also agree that the ending was very weak.

Well told story from the Autistic world view, I could relate to his difficulties and his triumphs despite others "expectations".

Average customer rating:

Much better than the first book...
An excellent read
Political Intrigue and Magical Dangers
The women of the Yellow City have their magic groove back
Not Hambly's best, but still quite good

Circle of the Moon
Barbara Hambly
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0446618179

Book Description

The laws of magic have changedno one knows how or why. And with that change, new perils have arisen: deadly water-monsters from the depths of the Seven Lakes and a plague of madness in the desert. In the strongholds of human safety, anger and greed bloom as nobles and landchiefs fight for power. Raeshaldis, the only woman formally trained in the old systems of male magic, allies herself with the beautiful concubine Summerchild to found the Circle of the Moona motley group of women whose powers are untested, unknown, and unreliable. Faced with an attempt by the landchiefs to oust the King, and with the efforts of her own family to re-enslave her, Raeshaldis must play a deadly guessing-game, while an even more terrible threat awaits......

Customer Reviews:

Much better than the first book..........2007-03-18

The world has changed since men lost their magic while women have gained a new form of magic....

Things are going awry in the Yellow City and its surrounding areas as water monsters have appeared and a plague of madness seems to be on the move along with a deadly green mist. The entire Realm of the Seven Lakes and King Oryn Jothek II's very life may be in jeopardy unless the Raven women (ie, the Crafty women newly empowered with magic) figure out a way to help Oryn with the deadly obstacles he must face in the newly proclaimed Jubilee- obstacles that were handled via magic in the past but no longer seem to be effective. Meanwhile, Raeshaldis finds herself torn between her loyalties to Oryn and her grandfather, who has demanded her assistance after a magical attack on his life. Will the Ravens be able to save Oryn and the Realm of the Seven Lakes in time?

Barbara Hambly returns readers to the very ambitious world she first crafted in SISTERS OF THE RAVEN. Without a doubt, readers should first read SISTERS OF THE RAVEN in order to get a real grasp on the complex world building and the numerous characters. SISTERS OF THE RAVEN spent a lot more time initially on showing readers all the various politics within the Yellow City while CIRCLE OF THE MOON builds on those already established relationships and assumes the readers are familiar with the underlying issues. The strength of CIRCLE OF THE MOON makes the initial struggles with reading SISTERS OF THE RAVEN more than worth the effort!

CIRCLE OF THE MOON is chock full of intrigue with a good dose of action to keep the plot flowing. The characters are so well drawn that readers will feel an instant kinship with many of them, including even Pomegranate's pig, Pontifer! However, CIRCLE OF THE MOON is really more Raeshaldis' story as she learns to grow in her magic and stretches herself in ways she had never previously imagined. Facing her grandfather again is a real test for her, as her grandfather had once thrown her out of the house for having the very same magic from which he now seeks to benefit.

CIRCLE OF THE MOON continues to address some of the issues of prejudice that first manifested in SISTERS OF THE RAVEN. Readers will be thoroughly enthralled with this book in the series, as the depth and complexity is simply astonishing. Many questions regarding the changes in magic are answered in this sequel. Barbara Hambly demonstrates why she is one of the masters in the fantasy genre with CIRCLE OF THE MOON.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

An excellent read.......2006-11-28

In the follow up to Sisters of the Raven, Barbara Hambly draws the reader into a mystical world where many gods are worshipped, and magical women draw their power from the Sun and the Earth. Ever since the men lost the ability to do magic ten years ago, and the women inherited this power, the Realm of the Seven Lakes has been changing. The magical women, few and unsure of their own
abilities, are unable to bring the rains to the desert landscape of the Yellow City, and the lakes are beginning to choke with sand.

When Reashaldis hears the cries of a distant Sister of the Raven--the term for women bestowed with the ability to carry out magic--begging for Raeshaldis' help in the face of the death of many of her townspeople, she is determined to find her magical "sister."

And with the King facing his second Jubilee, where he must conquer crocodiles, charm snakes and overcome deadly poison, she needs all the help she can get in return.

But as time begins to run out, and the deadly green mist looms ever closer, she begins to wonder whether she will be able to save the King, and the entire Realm, before they are lost forever.

Barbara Hambly brings you into a world you have never seen before, breathing life into her characters, and keeping you guessing to the very last page.

Armchair Interviews says: An excellent read for all fantasy fiction readers!!

Political Intrigue and Magical Dangers.......2006-07-17

Circle of the Moon (2005) is the second fantasy novel in the Raven Sisters series, following Sisters of the Raven. In the previous volume, the Raven Sisters were being abducted and then murdered. Raeshaldis investigated various sources of magic within the city, discovering the nature of the magical being within the idol of Nebekht and transporting herself to the site of the Raven's sacrifice. Luckily Summer Concubine, Pomegranate Woman and Oryn also figured out where the sacrificial site was located and arrived just in time to rescue Raeshaldis and Foxfire Girl from the murderer. But the teyn jenny had already been sacrificed. Three days later, the rains came to the Yellow City.

In this novel, the Raven Sisters are trying to renew the magical protections within the kingdom. Assisted by some former mages, Raeshaldis is intensively studying and practicing the known sigils and chants. The traditional methods, however, seldom work quite the same way for Ravens.

Cattail Woman is getting rich by selling love and hate potions that don't necessarily work as advertised. Ahure the former Blood Mage is also raking in money for amulets that are completely ineffective. Other male mages are continuing to hide the loss of their powers.

Shaldis is called to her home because of a magical attack on her grandfather Chirak Shaldeth. She finds him little changed from the angry, abusive patriarch that she had fled two years before. Still, she checks for signs of magic use within the household and finds several traces of unknown origin. Maybe there is another Raven in the city that she has not met; with the burdens placed on the Ravens, another female mage would be a gift from the gods.

Shaldis is also having strange dreams about dying children. Although trying to contact the source while awake, she has no success. Soth, the former Earth Mage, suggests holding thoughts of healing herbs in her mind before falling asleep and she tries this for many days. Finally she dreams again of the dying children and establishes contact with the faraway woman.

Pomegranate and Soth discover that ancient wards are no longer working to constrain the lake monsters. Of course, none had previously known that these wards even existed, so what other ancient wards are no longer functioning? And what danger were they designed to prevent?

This novel follows the Raven Sisters as they investigate several urgent mysteries, including the deaths at Three Wells and the unusual behavior of the teyn. Then Lord Akarian suggests that the gods have deserted the land and will only return after the Ceremony of the King's Jubilee. The king's uncle, Mohrvine, quickly agrees with the idea and the news is spread to every part of the city and beyond. Without magical help, maybe the king will be killed during the ceremony and then Mohrvine can become the king.

Highly recommended for Hambly fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of high adventure, exotic cultures, and perseverance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

The women of the Yellow City have their magic groove back.......2006-04-19

When I reviewed Barbara Hambly's Sisters of the Raven, I mentioned how I would be disappointed if there was a sequel, because it seemed to end at the perfect place and didn't need a sequel. In fact, I said that a sequel would "cheapen the magic that this one carries." Of course, she had to go and prove me wrong. With Circle of the Moon, Hambly builds on everything that she created in the first book, giving a logical extension to the events there and writing a book that is almost better than its predecessor. Not quite, but very close.

In a small desert society, the magic of men has disappeared. Sisters of the Raven detailed how some women discovered that they had some magical power of their own, and how that power became important. Circle of the Moon shows us the development of this magic as an even greater threat to the Yellow City emerges from the dead. As Raeshaldis, the only woman trained in the art of the old magics, works with the king's concubine, Summerchild, to discover why female magic works only sporadically, weird things start happening. Water monsters long thought extinct are terrorizing the coasts of the Seven Lakes. Some men are behaving in a monstrous fashion, turning into maniacs intent on nothing but destruction. Raeshaldis must figure out what is going on and how it relates to the various tombs scattered in the desert. Things become even more complicated when the King is challenged to a renewal of the ritual trials that proclaimed him King, and he discovers that it was the old magic, now seemingly non-existent, that stood in the way of the King dying. Can things get any worse? Of course they can.

Hambly once again gives us an extremely interesting society, where women are still treated as chattel but some women hold more power than many of the men. Summerchild is the power behind the throne, along with King Oryn's charisma and intelligence. With women now working magic, they may become even more powerful, and Hambly shows us all the different facets of this. Some use it for monetary gain, a power that is easily gained. Others use it to try and get a family member on the throne, and will stop at nothing to obtain that power. Meanwhile, a small circle of women (the Sisters of the Raven) try to help the king as well as figure out how their power works. It's all extremely fascinating, and Hambly weaves all of these stories into a tapestry that includes this grand threat to everything in existence, and she manages not to lose her way doing it. It helps that many of these stories are tied together, of course.

Once again, it's Hambly's power of setting that makes the book even better, though I can certainly see why some people wouldn't like it. She sets the scenes extremely well, describing everything that's going on around the characters as they walk and talk, or as they sit in the desert heat trying to keep cool. My mind's eye pictured every location vividly, and each character seemed even more human as they went about their business, discussing what they can do to help Summerchild as they eat what proves to be one of the few meals they're able to enjoy, for instance. Of course, this description can get tedious if you aren't hooked on the story, but this time there's no problem there.

Then there is the characterization, which Hambly performs with her usual aplomb. I said before that everybody seems human in this book, but it's much more than that. I really grew to care about the characters, even as some of the events in their lives are extremely predictable. Hambly seems to play coy with the relationship between Raeshaldis and Jethan, but it's obvious where it's going. Even so, how it develops says a lot about Raeshaldis and provides even more characterization for her. The loving relationship between Oryn and Summerchild is even better, even with Summerchild being out of the book for a long stretch of time. Hambly avoids the clich? of the handsome king and the beautiful queen. While Summerchild is quite pretty, Oryn is described as slightly overweight, almost pudgy. But their love is strong, and this makes them both seem even more realistic.

Even the bad people in the story are three-dimensional. There isn't really a "villain," per se, but Mohrvine is hungry for the throne and anxious for Oryn to fail the tests. But even he is humanized, helping Oryn when it's in his best interest to do so, and feeling an obligation to the Sisters who saved his daughter's life. His mother is the closest to one-dimensional, using her power cruelly in the hopes of saving her son's life and having him ascend the throne, but even she isn't too bad.

I haven't said much about the plot of the book, other than my description, but that's because it really should be experienced without many hints. When I discovered the secret behind the women's fluctuating power, I had to hit myself on the forehead, it was that obvious. But Hambly disguises it well, and what's happening with the rest of the story is equally intriguing. The final action sequences go on a bit too long, but that's the only criticism I can give to this book. Circle of the Moon is yet another winner from Hambly, and only the fact that I loved Sisters of the Raven so much keeps me from saying it's better. Combine these two books, and you have a wonderful series. And, best of all, Hambly leaves room for an obvious sequel, and this time I can't wait.

David Roy

Not Hambly's best, but still quite good.......2006-03-04

Barbara has put out better works (time of the dark, etc.), but this was still quite fun and a compelling read. It expands upon the world and characters introduced in Sisters of the Raven nicely, and leaves many issues open for further works.

Circle of Three #7: Blue Moon (Circle of Three)

Average customer rating:

A Lesson in Wiccan
Great book!
Some of the best books I ever read
Pretty good...
A great edition to the series

Circle of Three #7: Blue Moon (Circle of Three)
Isobel Bird
Manufacturer: HarperTeen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0064472973
Release Date: 2001-07-03

Book Description

Ancient moon, O ageless traveler,
sailing on the sea of stars,
as once more you come to fullness,
turn your shining face to ours.

The second full moon of the month -- the blue moon -- is a time when powers are heightened, with unpredictable results. When Annie attempts the channeling practice called aspecting, she changes into someone Cooper and Kate hardly recognize. Can their combined strength restore Annie's spirit?

Download Description

"E-book exclusive special feature: This PerfectBound e-book contains ?Finding the Goddess or God Within You,? a Wiccan exercise prepared especially by Isobel Bird. Ancient moon, O ageless traveler, sailing on the sea of stars, as once more you come to fullness, turn your shining face to ours. The second full moon of the month -- the blue moon -- is a time when powers are heightened, with unpredictable results. When Annie attempts the channeling practice called aspecting, she changes into someone Cooper and Kate hardly recognize. Can their combined strength restore Annie's spirit?"

Customer Reviews:

A Lesson in Wiccan.......2002-03-23

The Circle of Three series is about three teenagers - Kate, Cooper and Annie who are practicing the Wiccan religion. The difference in this series (and perhaps the problem) is that each book does not have a beginning, middle and end, but is rather the continuing story of three girl's lives. Reading one out of sequence is confusing as it picks up right where the last one left off, and the events that take place are more like a sequence of events, rather than a structured plot with character building, suspense and a climax. For that reason it is hard to review just one book separately, as each one should be considered as one big novel divided into separate books.
However, the books do have their merits - they successfully jump onto the Wiccan/witchcraft/pagan bandwagon that everyone seems to be so obessed with lately, and provides an unbiased and realistic view of this religion as it appears today. Whether you believe in it or not, the books serve to shatter several damaging stero-types.
In this case, one of the main heroines, the slightly shy, bookish Annie invokes the goddess Freya to uplift her self-esteem in a ritual known as 'aspecting'. Gaining some of the goddess's characteristics such as confidence and assertion, Annie struts her new life-style, causing minor damage on the way. But it is only minor damage, and when her friends tell her how she's behaving, she reverses the 'spell' and regains her normal personality. See what I mean about no climax?
But I'm being unfair, because these books aren't written for riveting reading. They are written for a open-minded, realistic view at the Wiccan religion seen through the eyes of three young people, and in doing that it succeeds.

Great book!.......2001-09-26

I have read all the other books but this one particularly caught my interest. It was very clever and as much with the other books I finished it in a day. Annie learned from her experience and Kate was trying to be more open about her Wiccan interests. Cooper was learning how to be a girlfriend but still reeling from her experience in "In the Dreaming". Very well put together.

Some of the best books I ever read.......2001-07-28

I have actually never read this book but i have read the other 6. They have all captured my attention so much i finished 2 a day! These books not only keep your attention but they wet your fet in paganism. If you have no idea about it these are good books of learning and storys. If you are starting some is new and some is review and if you are experinced witch it might all be reviews. I find myself caught up with the characters and there lives and i easily read a book in two hours and when i finish say, wow well that was quick. Well whatever age i'm sure you'll love it. Please give these books a try, they should be worth while. Each book has a pretty belivable real life story, with witches of course.

Pretty good..........2001-07-16

So i loved this book. After Annie invoked Freya she was suddenly spunky, witty, creative, and outgoing (a little bitchy also). She even met a guy. But Kate and Cooper begin to get suspicious after Annie gets out of hand. She steals Cooper's thunder after her performance, she slaps Sherrie (which, by the way, was awesome), she insults Kate's mother (unintentionally), and she throws cake at a wedding she was helping to cater. So, as you can see, a very exciting book because Annie changes. I LOVED this book. A very good read (that only took one hour). One thing that i felt so bad about was when Tyler told Kate that they should cool it (i was going to CRY). Anyways, read this book if you liked the others. Guaranteed it is just as good, if not better, than the others.

A great edition to the series.......2001-07-12

In this book Annie is upset when Cooper and Kate blow off her idea for a blue moon ritual. She's beginning to notice that they're more focused on there own lives (and boyfriends) lately and she hates it. So she decides to do something for the full moon herself, a special ritual in which she invokes a goddess and spends time with her. At first the ritual dose nothing more than gives her confidence but soon Cooper and Kate are disturbed by the new Annie. She's turned into someone that they don't recognize anymore. But her friends have other serious problems on their minds. It's becomming obvious to Kate that's she's going to have to tell her mother about Wicca. And Copper's offended by TJ's responce to her wiccan poetry. Can they save Annie and solve there own problems at the same time?

I thought this book was one of the best in the series so far. Annie has always been my favroite charecter and in this book she really gets to shine. If you're a fan of the last 6 books you HAVE to read this one. I fully reccomend it. I can't wait until the five paths come out!

Average customer rating:

honest

Not for children
The Girl in the Moon Circle
Sia Figiel
Manufacturer: Institute of Pacific Studies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

Where We Once Belonged

Sia Figiel: They Who Do Not Grieve

My Samoan Chief

Islands of Samoa: Reference Map of Tutuila, Manu'A, 'Upolu, and Savai'I

Leaves of the Banyan Tree (Talanoa : Contemporary Pacific Literature)

ASIN: 982020125X

Book Description

The Girl in the Moon Circle, like the cover drawing, shows Samoan life through the eyes of a ten-year-old girl called Samoana. Though young, Samoana is perceptive, not much escapes her analysis. She tells us about school, church, friends, family violence, having refrigerators and television for the first time, Chunky cat food, a Made-in-Taiwan, Jesus, pay day, cricket, crushes on boys, incest, legends and many other things. Her observations offer a compelling look at Samoan society. Often fiction allows authors to tell truths that otherwise would be too painful; Sia Figiel is uninhibited. Her prose, in English and Samoan, hurtles readers toward the end of the book. Sia Figiel, herself, has mesmerized audiences around the Pacific Islands with readings from The Girl in the Moon Circle.

Customer Reviews:

honest.......2002-04-29

Short writings that tell the experiences of a Samoan girls,that Pacifc life isn't all what it seems. read where we once belonged next.

Not for children.......2001-08-23

Although this book is about a 10 year old Samoan girl the subjects the author explores are adult. The book is dark and deals with sexual issues and family violence. I'm not saying the book is without merit. It would surely have a place when studying modern polynesian cultures as an adult, but I think buyers should know that it is inappropriate for children.

Carolina Moon (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

Average customer rating:

Quirky for the sake of being quirky
Bursting with life
Carolina Moon has great charm and depth
Waste of Time
Somewhat Pointless

Carolina Moon (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
Jill Mccorkle
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0449912809
Release Date: 1997-09-08

Amazon.com

Jill McCorkle entered the publishing world with a splash, sending her first two books to the press simultaneously. Her latest work, Carolina Moon, revolves around a circle of folks united not so much by their knowledge of one another but by a certain kindred spirit. The setting, as in McCorkle's earlier book July 7th, is a small North Carolina town. There, the charismatic widow Quee Purdy intercedes in the lives of a number of young couples, creating several mysteries, the details of which are disclosed from varying points of view.

Book Description

"DELIGHTFUL CHARACTERS, LIVELY DIALOGUE AND GOOD STORYTELLING."
--The Washington Post

Energetic, voluptuous, and well past sixty, Queen Mary Purdy opens a smoke-enders clinic in the resort town of Fulton, North Carolina. Her unorthodox approach (aroma therapy? Massage?) provides much grist for the rumor mill.

But Quee's new venture is the least of the many scandals brewing in Fulton: a happily married woman entrusts her illicit secrets to a dead letter file; a mad-as-hell property owner seeks revenge for his recently-submerged investment; a radio talk show host longs to hit the big time, by any means. Quee knows these folks need help with more than their nicotine fits, and their troubles are all tied to that resilient little muscle known as the heart. . . .

"Has the elements of a mystery, a comedy and a small town soap opera. In fact, it's all three and more, a book about loss and recovery, grief and resolution, meddling and responsibility."
--San Francisco Chronicle

Customer Reviews:

Quirky for the sake of being quirky.......2006-07-18

Jill McCorkle seems to be trying too hard to be unique and quirky just for the sake of being "original." I was attracted to this book because I like fiction written from the point of view of many characters, but "Carolina Moon" was an amalgam of too many different styles that just wouldn't blend. We have letters, we have third person narration, and we have first person narration in the form of an annoying young woman talking to a tape recorder diary. Too much.

This last narration bothered me because the woman didn't sound like she was talking to a tape recorder - the voice sounds more like a written voice. For example, she barely distinguishes who's speaking, which is fine on the page where you can see indents and paragraphs and quotation marks, but as a spoken voice it didn't work. She didn't sound like a real person. The point of having someone tell his or her story through a tape recorder diary is to capture his/her voice more naturally. McCorkle just tells the story this way because it's "neat." The character doesn't sound any different from any of the other characters - and her story is pointless and contributes nothing to the plot or sublot or second subplot.

Quee was just plain annoying. She's an old, quirky prostitute medicine woman who collects pictures of people she doesn't know and makes stories up about them. She was quirky and had a quirky perspective on morals, so we're supposed to like her. I hated her. I'm tired of fiction about crazy, quirky people trying to force their agendas down our throats. The best novel I've read about a quirky person was "A Separate Peace" because the narrator in that novel gets just as annoyed at the quirky character as the reader. (And he pushes him out of a tree.) Read that book instead.

I think McCorkle may just have been suffering from some quirkiness herself when she wrote this book. The characters are flat and uninteresting, and the stories are bland. There's no reason for the unnamed woman to drop letters to her dead lover in the mailbox except to advance the story. And the only purpose the mailman has is to read the letters to us. The characters are more like the author's pawns than real people. The book didn't really seem to be about anything, and the ending was unbelievable (in a bad way, not a good way). I was surprised because McCorkle is usually a very good character writer. Her short story "Intervention" is a marvelous story about a woman torn between her alcoholic husband and her children, who wish to have an intervention. Great character in that story. I'd recommend reading McCorkle's short stories instead of "Carolina Moon."

Bursting with life.......2004-08-20

The award-winning McCorkle's fifth novel delivers the humor, zest, and thoughtfully engaging characters readers have come to expect from this Southern writer ("Tending to Virginia," "Ferris Beach").

In the North Carolina town of Fulton, 15 miles and a world away from the coast, Quee Purdy, 69, a flamboyant and free-spirited widow, has just opened an unconventional quit-smoking clinic where resident addicts are "pampered right out of the addiction."

Quee is at the center of a small circle of younger Fultonites. She holds the key to the mysteries in their lives and explores these secrets aloud in story-telling tours of her gallery of photos - pictures of strangers who have captured her imagination and inspire her to heights of fancy and fact. Her audience, however, seldom gets the point of her veiled parables.

Tom Lowe is a favorite of Quee's. A handsome handyman, Tom's life is stalled in brooding over the suicide of a father he scarcely knew, the underwater lot that was his father's only legacy, and the lover he lost to the wider world outside Fulton.

Denny Parks, sexy, insecure and adventurous, is the daughter of Quee's oldest friend, who has been invited to the clinic as a therapist, a profession in which she has absolutely no experience. She has, however, had a nervous breakdown and loves to talk, eminent qualifications.

Alicia Jameson, another of Quee's assistants, is the abused wife of a loathsome-Lothario local talk show host, Jones Jameson, who has disappeared.

The next circle out includes Sarah McAllister, Tom's high-school sweetheart, who returned to Fulton with her husband in tow and fading hopes of a baby, only to end in a coma from an aneurysm. And Wallace Johnson, the old postmaster, who's been reading letters addressed to the Wayward One, a suicide, for 20 years. And Myra Carter, an elderly admirer of Jones Jameson, who hates Quee for suspected adultery with her husband, the late doctor.

The lives of all these people are intertwined with Quee's in ways only Quee is cognizant of, a Godlike omniscience that is a driving force in her own life. But one of the book's chief ironies is that the reader comes into possession of a puzzle piece illuminating a misunderstanding that has haunted, romanticized, even directed Quee's life.

McCorkle, also an accomplished short story writer, reveals her characters' lives in vignettes that rove among various points of view, exploring interlocking histories that share a peripheral fascination with the missing Jones Jameson and an unknown but crucial connection with Quee.

The author forges an intimacy with her readers through lives full of vivid details, memories and actions that make her characters' anxieties, fears and ambitions visceral. While her story includes romance, adultery, even murder, these are only colorful elements in the greater tapestry of the human heart. Her concluding chapter, with its quietly explosive revelations, sends the reader reeling while barely causing a ripple in the lives of her still-unknowing characters.

"Carolina Moon" is a novel of intricate beauty, fueled by Southern humor, charm, tragedy and guile.

Carolina Moon has great charm and depth.......2004-08-03

okay, all you people who said you didn't like this book didn't say something about the book. You said something about yourself. In a world of cynical people who expect something bigger out of the story than just pure human emotion do not realize what you're missing. This book is full of beautiful prose that tell you everything about the characters even if a particular chapter is not from their point of view. I had the privelage of seeing her read excerpts from this masterpeice aloud and it was wonderful! She truely is a great storyteller and this book is fabulous!

Waste of Time.......2003-04-04

I love Myrtle Beach and all of the South and was very excited to read a Southern author. What a huge disappointment! I'm curious how this is a National Bestseller as advertised.

Somewhat Pointless.......2001-01-02

I wouldn't exactly say I'm sorry that I read this book, but I was definitely expecting more out of it. I did make it to the end, where I thought the vignettes would come together to create a meaning and one of those lightbulb over your head moments where you realize what's been happening all along. However, the end was just as confusing as the rest of the book. I felt like I had just spent my time reading something that amounted to nothing. What a disappointment.

The Hunger Moon: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

Average customer rating:

three female protagonists confront loneliness, family loss
Believeable characterizations, enjoyable read
Strong Characters, Story Needs Some Umph
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Good Writing, Poor Story Line

The Hunger Moon: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
Suzanne Matson
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345425537
Release Date: 1999-04-06

Book Description

A waitress and now a single mother, Renata wants only to give her baby boy, Charlie, a better start. So she packs up her spare life, leaves her boyfriend behind, and heads across the country in search of a new place to begin. Settling in Boston, her life is suddenly changed by the chance meeting of two unlikely women: Eleanor, a seventy-eight year old widow who is stripping away the layers of her past, and June, an ambitious dance student who relies on a psychic to help manage her estranged relationships--all the while keeping a shocking secret.

As these three resilient women of different backgrounds and ages face their own particular demons, Charlie becomes their shared center. Drawing strength from each other and the maternal bond that unites them, they soon discover that the lives they have run from just may be their saving grace. . . .

Customer Reviews:

three female protagonists confront loneliness, family loss.......2004-03-30

Of all the curses afflicting us, loneliness and lack of family are two of the most painful. They cause us to examine the nature of our selves, to catalogue our strengths and reflect on what could have been. Suzanne Matson's compassionate and true debut novel, "The Hunger Moon," explores the impact of isolation and family loss through the intertwined lives of three female protagonists. Despite their differences in class, age and experience, the three women discover meaning, vision and strength through their growing interdependence. This connectedness gives "The Hunger Moon" both its poignancy and urgency.

Renata is the most complicated of the three characters. A seemingly nondescript single mother of an endearing infant son, Renata has chosen to hit the road, leaving her child's father ignorant of his fatherhood. Renata discovers that her freeom is illusory; instead of liberating her, her eventual choice of Boston as her home finds her rootless, unmoored not only from her west-coast heritage, but without the comforting safety net of caring friends. While struggling with the practical aspects of economic survival and motherhood, Renata must also come to grips with the impact of her decision to remove her son Charlie from his unknown father, Bryan. In turn, she must question herself as to her convoluted, ill-defined feelings about love, commitment and marriage.

As she grapples with the moral dilemma her life choices has engendered, Renata slowly develops a relationship with the newly reclusive Eleanor, a successful jurist whose recent widow status has resulted in her literally stripping away the veneer of her past family life. Now living in a starkly barren apartment, Eleanor finds a delighted surprise in bonding with her freshly-discovered neighbor Renata.

Joining this mix is the conflicted June. Bulimic and ravaged by constant academic and artistic disappointments (she is a flop as a student and troubled by her lack of success as a dancer), June receives no solace from her parents -- a distant, indifferent father and a mother reeling from the pressures of compelled personal reinvention. June satisfies her hunger for connection through caretaking and babysitting, two services which reintroduce her to her own humanity.

It is the elemental reawakening -- to possibility, to hope, to humanity -- which invests "The Hunger Moon" with such dignity. Matson's sensitive exploration of the nature of family ties, the difficult choices women face in offering themselves to others in love and the impact of personal responsibility in times of emotional duress gives her writing an urgeny and an elegance rare in debut novels. The author interweaves her characters' lives with the same skill as she develops their distinct personalities.

"The Hunger Moon" satisfies as story and as fable. Eleanor, June and Renata develop qualities which sustain and broaden; their personal stories become illustrative of what we can become once we shed the restrictive walls which shut us off not only from others, but from our true inner selves.

Believeable characterizations, enjoyable read.......2001-06-26

Not a book that you will want to read again, but an enjoyable few hours.

Strong Characters, Story Needs Some Umph.......2001-03-13

I loved the characters in the book. They were endearingly imperfect and easy to relate too. I loved the relationships between these three women and how they loved one another without completely understanding each other. The premise of the story is fine but I am not always crazy about some of the author's choices for outcome, especially in the story's climax whic almost ruined the whole book for me. I found it a little unrealistic that a woman who barely spent a moment alone from her baby would act with such neglect or that any compassionate woman would leave a baby in the hands of an elderly woman who's mind is failing. I also found the ending to be a bit rushed.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book!.......1999-12-04

This was an incredibly quick and enjoyable read. I really cared about the characters and their lives. Matson's style reminded me of Anne Tyler's. I wish the book was longer--I didn't want it to end.

Good Writing, Poor Story Line.......1999-09-15

I like Suzanne Matson's style of writing...but i thought that the story line left something to be desired. I do hope she writes more though. If you are considering buying this book...I think its worth it...it's pretty touching...But it wont be one of your all time favorites.

Warrior Circle (Howard Moon Deer Mystery Series)

Average customer rating:

more than a regional mystery
Great Storyteller
A good story that is told well.
Tremendous New Mexico mystery

Warrior Circle (Howard Moon Deer Mystery Series)
Robert Westbrook
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Series | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0451198174

Customer Reviews:

more than a regional mystery.......2000-07-30

I loved this book. It is a good regional murder mystery, but it is more than that. It is social satire: Lexus-driving yuppie men gather in the mountains around the campfire on the weekends to beat drums and search for their inner child, all the while conspiring to enrich themselves at the expense of the townspeople. It is a couple of love stories: about the hero whose girlfriend has inexplicably disappeared, and about the irascible blind detective and his loving wife of many years who help him find her. And it is above all a very funny book that exposes the hypocrisy of politicians and the rich. While he is compared to Tony Hillerman, I think Westbrook is more like Florida's Carl Hiaasen and Randy Wayne White although not nearly as insanely inventive -- which can be a relief.

Great Storyteller.......2000-04-05

Robert Westbrook shows his talent and his literary roots in his new mystery series. Also author of Intimate Lies, Westbrook knows the Southwest first-hand. He draws you into the outsider viewpoint and tells an intriguing story. The Warrior Circle mystery illuminates the dark places of men's emotions and greed that drive them to evil deeds.

A good story that is told well........1999-09-12

Robert Westbrook has very strong character studies in this latest episode of his Howard Moon Deer series. The story unfolds well, and the readers are actually placed in the situations as they happen by use of vivid descriptions and good use of conversation between characters. The few short-comings are in the form of inconsistent evidentiary findings and unlikely behavior of certain characters. However, this does not detract significantly from a book that is interesting and moves along at an adequate pace. It is also a accurate window to the geography, politics, society and mentality of small town, northern New Mexico.

Tremendous New Mexico mystery.......1999-05-13

In the New Mexico desert, the all male group meets once a week to discuss problems. On special occasions, they conduct ceremonies including using peyote that they have borrowed from Native Americans. During the day, they return to their "Paleface" existence. However, one of them has stepped over the line and begins to murder. He starts with one of the group, former musician Gary Tripp.

Lakota Sioux Howard Moon Deer feels as if he does not belong in any world. A Ph.D. candidate, last night Howard had a fight with his lover, reporter Aria Waldman. This morning, the music playing from her jeep awakens Howard. He investigates, only to find a running vehicle and a nearby gun, which was recently fired. He searches for Aria, but cannot find her.

Tripp's spouse hires private detective Jack Wilder to find out what happened to her husband. The former police commander, Jack, who is blind, works with Howard as the two inquires merge into one dangerous investigation that could cost them their lives.

WARRIOR CIRCLE is a superb regional mystery that brings the Southwest desert into full scope for readers. Howard and Jack are extremely complex and intelligent characters. The recurring secondary players provide a feel of authenticity. The who-done-it is quite entertaining as Robert Westbrook scribes an enjoyable tale that provides much pleasure for fans of Southwest mysteries.

Harriet Klausner

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